Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series (19 page)

“I’m not sure I’m capable of love. I don’t understand what that means. She mattered to me, but I don’t know how to describe my feelings for her. I would have died for her. She was my best friend, my only friend. I trusted her. Is that love?”

“It’s a type of love. Not the kind you feel for a partner or a mate, but a special love regardless. You will know it when it’s the real romantic love. You won’t be able to deny it.”

“No, thank you. I can see what that kind of love has done to you -- and no offense Mom, but that’s the last thing I want.”

It was rare for Kaden to open up in such a way. He was on emotional overload. Olivia did not want to take advantage of his emotional state, but it was so rare for him to open up like this that she could not help but wonder how far she could push. She had to try when the opportunity was there.

“Kaden, you said this was your second biggest mistake. What was your first?”

“Damn. I was hoping you missed that stupid little comment. Talking to you is like talking to Maddy. I have a bad case of diarrhea of the mouth when it comes to you.”

“Thanks for that lovely image.”

“Sorry.” Kaden turned away from his mother to face the barren wall. “I might as well tell you everything. Maybe then you will finally see me for the loser that I am. It has to do with Julian and why he hates me so much. He has every reason to despise me. I hate myself for what I did to him.”

“I won’t judge you, Kaden. I just want to understand.”

“You know I loved Jules.” Kaden turned to face his mother. He searched her eyes, hoping for a sign of understanding. “When he was born, no one was happier than I. He was mine—my child to take care of and protect. As much as I loved him, I envied him. I was jealous. I hated the way Daughton favored him. Everything I wanted, he gave to Julian. I started resenting Julian for that even though I knew it wasn’t his fault. I couldn’t take it and I reached this point where I wanted to take away all that Julian had. After I killed Daughton, I thought my jealousy and anger would subside, but it didn’t. Julian resented me for not feeling remorse about Daughton’s death, and I resented him for caring that the bastard was dead. Of course Julian didn’t understand that I killed him or why, but we fought constantly over my glee that the monster was finally gone. Julian moved to San Diego and I followed him there. Part of me still wanted to protect my little brother even though I constantly did things to hurt him. I wanted to protect him, but I was the one he needed protection from. Anyhow, Julian started dating this stunning blonde enchantress, Helena. She looked like the goddess Venus. She was superficially perfect, but she was also cold and manipulative. She used her looks to get what she wanted. I knew she was a mistake for Julian the moment I met her, but he fell fast and hard and I couldn’t get him to really see her.”

“I never knew anything about her. How long were they together?”

“Three years. Julian wanted to keep her a secret like his personal prized possession. I met her only because I forced my way into his life so much. It was obvious that Julian was madly in love, but I never got the impression she was in love with him. There was something off about her, but I couldn’t figure it out. I knew she wasn’t human. I asked Julian, but he didn’t seem to care. He couldn’t keep his hands off of her. She knew Julian and I were vampires and that didn’t bother her in the least. It seemed to fascinate her even more.

“Julian proposed to her and invited me over for dinner to celebrate their engagement. He wanted a new start with her and with me. He wasn’t there when I arrived. Helena said he was running late so it was just the two of us drinking and laughing. Before I knew it, she was flirting with me. I called her out on it and she just laughed and told me I was making a big deal over nothing. I knew this was trouble. I told her I was leaving. I went to the door and she touched my shoulder. I had no interest in her, but I was suddenly overwhelmed with this feeling that I had to have her. I never reacted to a woman like that before. I completely lost control. I slept with her in Julian’s bed and of course he walked in on us.”

Olivia stood up and paced the cell. She knew she had to regain her composure. She asked Kaden for the truth. She could not shut him out after encouraging him to speak. He might not ever speak again. This was a test of her love for him. He set the trap and she had to be careful not to get snared.

“What happened next?” Olivia asked as calmly as she could.

Kaden watched her closely, trying to interpret her reaction, but Olivia masked it well. “Julian and I fought viciously. We clawed each other and threw each other around the apartment. I think we would have killed each other had Helena not broken it up. She turned to Julian and told him that she wanted to be with me. I was stunned. I still couldn’t believe this was happening. I didn’t want her, but I had to have her. She clutched my hand and we walked out the apartment together. She moved in with me. I know Julian was devastated. I was devastated, but I couldn’t change it. Helena and I were together for months and it was a nightmare. I hated her, but I couldn’t keep my hands off of her. We fought and screwed over and over again. We were the definition of hate sex. Poor Jules tried to get her back. Eventually, she was sleeping with both of us. She wanted me to get jealous, but I couldn’t. I didn’t care. I didn’t love her. I wanted her to stay with Julian, but she kept coming back and I couldn’t resist.

“One day, she asked me to turn her. She wanted to be like me, she said, so that we could really be together. I had never turned anyone before and I didn’t want to now. Transformations were rarely successful and would more likely lead to death. I explained this to her, but she persisted. As usual, she seduced me into compliance. I tried to turn her, but it went horribly wrong. I can’t even explain what happened. I drank her blood, which tasted like nothing I had ever experienced. It was beyond delicious. I couldn’t stop drinking once I tasted her. I almost bled her dry, but I left just enough to complete the transformation. I fed her my blood and waited. After a few minutes, her body spasmed wildly. I could see her veins protruding from her body until they burst, spewing blood all over the bed. I didn’t know what to do. I never felt so helpless. After a few minutes, her body went completely still. I knew she was dead.

“I called Julian and told him. I owed him a last chance to say goodbye to her. He was crushed. He accused me of ruining his life and stealing the one woman he loved. He swore he would hate me forever. I couldn’t blame him. I just wish I could understand what happened. The whole thing feels so surreal. It was like I was trapped in this dream I could not control or escape from. I don’t know why I did what I did to him. I guess it was my ridiculous jealousy. At the end, we both lost Helena, but all I cared about was the fact that I had lost my baby brother forever and it was my entire fault.”

Olivia did not believe this was a simple case of jealousy. She could see how badly Kaden felt about this, but she could not understand how he could do this to Julian. Kaden was always so protective of his little brother even though he resented the attention Julian received from their father. To hurt Julian in such a manner was unfathomable.

“I came to New Paltz to beg for Julian’s forgiveness, but it didn’t work. He was so hostile from the moment I stepped foot at this door. Maddy encouraged me to keep trying. I was determined to do just that, but then the murders started and the rift between us became insurmountable. I know how much he hates me and wants to see me rot for these crimes. Do you think it’s possible that he is setting me up?”

“No.” Olivia said the word confidently although she did not feel it inside. Julian was not a killer, she knew that in her heart, but anyone could be pushed too far. Kaden pushed Julian to the brink. Was it possible that he fell?

Olivia left Kaden’s cell mourning the loss of family she believed could not possibly be saved. How could she ask Julian to forgive the unforgivable? Was it possible that Julian was seeking revenge by framing his brother for a murder he did not commit? Part of her could understand why Julian would do something like that, but she prayed he was not responsible for this carnage. Julian had always been a sweet, kind, sensitive boy. She could not imagine him hurting anyone, but she knew from experience that good people could be pushed to do the most odious acts, especially in the name of love. Such a gratifying emotion could lead to so much destruction.

Why would Kaden do something so horrific to Julian? Olivia asked herself over and over again. Not only did he have an affair with Julian’s fiancée in Julian’s home, he maintained a relationship with her for months. It must have tortured Julian, knowing Kaden was with the woman he loved. Just as it must have tormented Lucian knowing she was with Daughton. Maybe she was more like Kaden than she realized.

Olivia was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice Lorenzo standing in front of her. He looked as handsome and serene as ever. She felt remorseful for her terse reaction to him earlier. She had unfairly taken out her frustration at Lucian on Lorenzo.

“Lorenzo, I’m sorry for being so snippy with you earlier. I was upset and I had no right to take it out on you.”

“I understand, madam.”

“Please call me Olivia. There’s no need for such formalities between us.”

“Certainly.” Olivia started to walk away, but Lorenzo called out to her. “Olivia. May I ask you a question?”

Olivia saw the troubled expressed in the Lycan’s eyes. “Of course.”

“This may not be appropriate, but I was wondering if you could help me understand Corinne. I think she shares my affection, but she keeps fighting it. She flirts with me, but then she’ll turn around and flirt with another. Is this just a game she plays, or do you think there is something there? I feel so drawn to her, but I don’t know if this is real for her.”

This was the first time Olivia had sensed that Corinne truly cared about a man. Knowing Corinne, she would shun such a foreign feeling. She feared love and the loss of freedom she believed inevitably resulted from surrendering one’s heart to another. Corinne did not believe in love, but it might find her regardless. Olivia hoped Lorenzo had the patience to wait for Corinne to stop denying her own heart.

“Corinne won’t allow herself to be loved. She will push you away if you get too close. I encourage you not to give up. I can see how much she cares about you. The more she cares, the harder she will push you away. She is a challenge, but a fascinating one.”

“Why push away something you want?” Lorenzo asked.

“If you don’t feel like you deserve it, it makes sense to push it away. Corinne has a lot of secrets, many of which make her feel unnecessarily guilty. Getting her to break down those titanium walls around her heart would take a Herculean effort. I think you’re up to the task and there is no doubt she’s worth it. Just remember one thing -- she’s all bark and no bite.”

Lorenzo smiled. “Is that a wolf joke?”

“A bad one, I admit, but it’s true nonetheless. Cori talks a good game, but the reality is quite different.” Olivia embraced Lorenzo. “I think you could be good for her. Don’t give up.”

“What’s going on here?”

Olivia and Lorenzo turned around to see Lucian standing there with a look of pure fury on his face. Lorenzo backed away from Olivia. Olivia was too angry with him to allow him to make her feel guilty about an innocent hug, especially after seeing how he treated Kaden.

“None of your business,” Olivia replied, matching Lucian’s ire.

Within a second, Lucian was standing in front of Olivia. He gripped her shoulders tightly, but not enough to hurt her. “I repeat, what’s going on here?”

A defiant Olivia would not answer, but Lorenzo did. “Olivia went to see Kaden and then we were talking about Corinne. She was just giving me some helpful advice.”

“Was part of the advice demonstrating how you should hug Corinne?”

Olivia could not restrain her anger any longer. She shoved Lucian away from her, forcing him into the wall, shattering some of the concrete. It was a little harder than she intended, but she did not care at this moment. He had no right to act so jealous and possessive of her, especially when he had made it clear there was no future for them.

“How dare you? You have no right to question my actions. If I wanted to sleep with Lorenzo and every guard in this disgusting place, you wouldn’t have the right to say anything. You dare lock my son up in chains after I trusted you not to hurt him, and now you get all domineering and possessive of me because I have the audacity to hug another man? You have some nerve, Lucian Santoro.”

Lucian was caught off guard by the usually meek Olivia’s sudden aggression. Her eyes darkened, reflecting a rage he had never seen. He watched her tremble as she battled her emotions. He did not want this situation to get out of hand, especially with Lorenzo standing there watching it unfold. Lucian wiped the dust off his shirt and calmly approached Olivia. Speaking in the gentle voice that caused many women to melt, he explained, “I did not hurt your son…”

“You can’t see that he’s hurting being confined like that? You’re too blinded by your hatred to see anyone else’s pain.”

Calm was not working, and Lucian needed to defuse this potentially volatile situation. “We will not discuss this here.” Lucian grabbed Olivia’s wrist. She tried to resist, but he was stronger. He lifted her up over his shoulder. Olivia scratched at his shirt and pounded his back. When he reached his office, he released her, nearly dropping her on the ground. As he turned around to grab a chair, Olivia launched at him and pounded his backside with her fists. Lucian swiftly turned around to restrain her, lifting her into his arms. “I didn’t know you were into spanking, cara. I could get used to this.”

He dropped a seething Olivia on the couch. Olivia felt out of control. She had never lost her temper and succumbed to a rage, but her eyes were blinded by the red fury she could not control. She took a moment to catch her breath, hoping to see beyond this red mist. Eventually the haze of red began to clear. Lucian was rattling her nerves, and she was shattering.